Securing attachment for wagon end-boards.



Patented Sept. l6, I902.

W. L. STERLING. I SECURING ATTACHMENT FOB WAGDN END BOARDS.

(Applicatiozi filed Apr. 15, 1902.)

"M" n M MINIMUM I (No Model.)

uric,

WILLIAM L. STERLING, OF BROOKLYN, PENNSYLVANIA.

SECURING ATTACHMENT FOR \NAGON END-BOARDS.

SPEGIFICATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 709,123, dated September 16, 1902.

Application filed April 15, 1902. Serial No. 103,063. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM L. STERLING, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Susquehanna, in the State of Pennsylvanirn'have invented a new and useful Securing Attachment for End-Boards in Wagons, of which the following is a correct description.

The object of the invention is to provide a means upon an end-board for wagons for engaging the side-boards of the wagon-box and drawing such side-boards inwardly and holding them in rigid and. secure but readily releasable contact withsuoh end-boards.

The invention consists, therefore, in the combination, with a wagon end-board, of a novel clamping and releasing appliance which is loosely mounted upon such end-board and which is adapted by its terminal projections to engage the side-boards of the wagon-box and to hold them securely in contact with the outer extremities of the end-board and which is adapted also by a single movement of such appliance to instantly release such sideboards.

Theinvention consists also in an extensible and contractible clamping appliance which is loosely secured upon the end-board of a wagon-box and which in its main central portion is adjustable down or up in a perpendicular line across the vertical face of such end-board, according as it is desired to engage its ends with or to disengage them fromthe side-boards.

The invention consists also in certain novel combinations of elements, as will appear from the following description of the construction and operation and as will be specifically set forthin the claims which follow such description.

In the accompanying drawings, which constitute a part of this specification, Figure 1 represents an end elevation of the wagon-box, a portion at the right of the figure being shown in vertical section. Fig. 2 is a detail top plan of the parts seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, drawn to an enlarged scale, of the four-part clamping appliance detached. Fig. 4 represents an enlarged vertical section as in the dotted line seen in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail of the central portion of the end-board enlarged, showing a modified construction of the projecting guard upon such end-board. Fig. 6 is a detail of the end-board as when provided with a central opening instead of a projecting exterior guard. Fig. 7 is a top plan, partly in horizontal section, of the parts represented in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view, in part in vertioal section, in a line at right angle to the side-board and in part in elevation to show the corner cavity or recess which receives the terminal or hooked portion of the clamping appliance.

Referring now more in detail to the several figures, it will be understood that in. Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 a designates the end-board and that in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 8 a designates one of the side-boards of the Wagon-box A. Extending along the board a from end to end thereof is the body or main portion of the holding and releasing appliance B, Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6, and 7, the two arms I) b of which are pivoted together one directly upon the other at the mid-length of the board. At a point coincident with the ends of the end-board the arms (9 b of the adjusting appliance or elbow-leverl3 receive,respectively,the hooked extensions 19 and b Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, which by an opening 0 and a pivot-pin (not seen in the drawings) are operatively mounted within the recess 1", produced by the cutout portion of the upright blocks or cleats b and b and the coincident face of the endboard itself. Short spurs s and .9 which project rearwardly from the outer face of the end-board, serve as stops to limit the movement of the extensions or hooks h and b and through them to restrict within suitable distances the movement up or down of the operatingarms h b". As an auxiliary to the limiting-stops s and s a shield or guard to g is mounted upon the end-board at its midlength to act in conjunction with such stops to suitably limit the up-and-down movement of the arms I) and b and also to protect them against injury by being moved forcibly outward from the end-board through accident or otherwise, or, if desired, the pivot or hinge pin 1) p of the arms I) b may extend through an opening or slot at o in the end-board and ICQ be secured therein bya nut a n, and in such cases the guard at g may be dispensed with as unnecessary. (See Figs. 6 and 7.)

A metallic plate a, p, Figs. 1 and 2, is secured to the inner face of the vertical cleat b. This plate in practice extends downwardly to and through the bottom board or bed-plate b p of the wagon-box, and at its upper extremity it has an outwardly-projecting rim or spur a s for engagement by the extremity of the hooked extensions b b of the adjusting-arms 19 b An additional metallic plate 819, Fig. 2, is fixed upon the cleat of the end-board a and serves to protect and strengthen the same and contiguous parts.

As herein shown and described, the wagonbox and its cleats are composed of wood,while the adjustingarms and the guard are of metal; but it is apparent that, if desired, all the parts may be composed of metal.

It will of course be understood that when the hooked extensions are released from their engagement the end-board may be readily lifted from its seat upon the bottom or bedplate of the wagon-box.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed is 1. In a wagon-box, the combination with the side-boards and with the end-board of such box, of a clamping appliance which in its main portion consists of two arms which at the mid-length of the board are pivoted together, one directly upon the other, and

which in its outer portions is pivoted upon such board; such outer portions being movable into or out of engagement with the sideboards, by the movement of the central or main portion of the appliance, directly across the face of the end-board; substantially as described.

2. In a wagon-box, the combination with the side-boards, and with the end-board of such wagon-box, of an adjustable securing appliance which is operatively mounted upon the end-board; and a means, applied upon the end-board, for preventing outward movement of such securing appliance, while permitting its free upward and downward movement directly across the face of such endboard; substantially as shown and set forth.

3. In a wagon-box, th e combination with the side-boards, and with the integral endboard of such box, of a clamping appliance which embraces two operating-arms which, at the mid-length of the end-board, are pivoted one upon the other, and which are movable either to clamp or to release the sideboards, by power applied directly to such arms themselves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM L. STERLING.

Witnesses:

W. R. GERE, L. PAULINE GERE. 

